Electric switch



y 1950 H. VAN VALKENBURG 2,513,695

ELECTRIC swncn Filed Jan. 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z' 27 III f, INVENTOR.

BY llJ drr Xvi/kw E a. g W

July 4, 1950 H. L. VAN VALKENBURG 2,513,695

- ELECTRIC swrrca Filed Jan. 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [N V EN TOR.

BYWVM Patented July 4 1950 ELECTRIC SWITCH Hermon L. Van Valkenburg, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Square D Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application January 12, 1945, Serial No. 572,472

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates tg an electromagnetically operated electric switch and has for one of its objects the provision of a simple and compact form of such switch.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric switch which is operable in any position of mounting.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric switch of the enclosed compact type with improved means for front accessibility and demounting of the contacts and operating parts of the switch.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the specification and appended drawing illustrating certain preferred embodiments in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an electric switch according to the present invention with part of the contact enclosure broken away.

Figure 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section along the line IIII of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line IlT-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section on the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

The electric switch, according to the present invention, comprises a mounting plate I adapted to be connected to a support by means of studs 2. Upon the plate I are mounted four supporting posts 3 as means of studs 4. On the upper pair of supporting posts 3 is mounted an insulating block 5 as by means of studs 6 threaded into the posts. Upon the forward ends of the lower pair of supporting posts 3 is mounted an insulating block I by means of studs 8 threaded into the supporting posts, the insulating blocks 5 and 1 being spaced apart to provide a transverse opening 9 therebetween. Upon the insulating block 5 are mounted a plurality of spaced conducting connectors II as by means of studs [2 and the lower ends of the connector I I support stationary contacts [3. Similarly, upon the block 1 are mounted the connectors l4 by means of studs 15 and adjacent their upper ends carry stationary contacts it vertically aligned with the contacts 53 on the block 5. The connectors I! and M are provided with terminal screws I! for the attachment of circuit wiring.

Upon the plate 1 between the posts 3 is mounted an E-shaped magnet structure [8 having upper and lower supporting plates terminating in flanges l9 secured to the back plate I by studs 2|. Upon the central core of the magnet I8 is mounted an energizing coil 22 maintained in place thereon by a pair of L-shaped brackets 23 secured to the magnet frame by the bolt 24. At opposite sides of the plate I between the supporting posts 3 thereof are mounted a pair of guide posts 25 having reduced portions 26 on which are disposed the biasing springs 21 and upon which are slidably mounted an insulating contact carrier 28. The back surface of the carrier 28 is cut out at 29 to receive an armature 3i maintained in place for limited pivotal movement upon the pin 32. The back surfaces of the blocks 5 and I are cut out at 33 to receive the insulating carrier 28 and determine its forward limit of travel to which it is biased by the springs 21. From the forward face of the carrier 23 project three insulating posts 34 which pass forwardly through the opening 9 between the blocks 5 and I. Secured in the posts 34 and extending forwardly thereof are movable contact and spring guide supporting posts 35 upon which are slidably mounted the bridging contact plates 30 carrying the movable contacts 31. The plates 36 are biased toward the posts 34 by contact pressure springs 38 whose forward ends are maintained by cup washers 39 and cotter pins 4|.

Forwardly of the insulating blocks 5 and l is mounted an insulating contact enclosing block 42 having three chambers 43 therein in each of which is disposed a pair of the spaced stationary contacts [3 and I6 and a bridging contact plate 6. The front surfaces of the blocks 5 and l and the dividing walls of the block 42 are provided with interlocking tongues and grooves indicated at 44 in Figure 1. The contact enclosing block 42 is maintained in place by means of studs threaded into the forward ends of the guide posts 25.

The operation of the switch will be readily apparent. When the coil 22 is energized, the magnet l8 will attract the armature 3| to move the carrier 28 rectilinearly upon the guide posts 25. The contacts 31 engage the contacts l3 and it prior to seating of the armature 3i and its continued movement into engagement with the magnet stresses the springs 38 to apply pressure to the cooperating contacts. This movement of the carrier 28 is against the bias of the return springs 21. To move the switch to the off position, the coil 22 is deenergized, whereupon the springs 2'! return the carrier 8 to the position shown in the drawings in which the contacts 3? are separate from the spaced stationary contacts I3 and IE to open the circuit through the switch.

a horizontal direction, any desired mounting po-. I

sition may be used.

A feature of this switch lies in the ready accessibility. of parts for inspection and for demounting entirely from the front of the switch and regardless o-fthe disposition of other switches or other structures immediately adjacent thereto. The removal of the studs d5 permits the insulating enclosure or hood A2 to be removed whereupon all-of the stationary and movable contacts are exposed for inspection. Removal of the studs 55 will permit removal of the insulating block 5 and the three stationary contacts I 3 mounted thereon. Similarly, removal of the studs 8 permits removal of the contact block 'I' and the s'tationary'contacts l li supported thereon. With the blocks 5 and l removed, the carrier 28 may be slid forwardly and removed from the guide posts '25 without further manipulation. Removal of the studs 2| provides for the frontwise removal of the magnet l8 and the energizing coil 22 thereon. It is thus seen that all parts of the switch are readily removable in a forward direction regardless of the immediate juxtaposition of other switches or other structures. 4

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto,

as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

In an electric switch, a mounting plate, switch operating means mounted on said mounting plate, spaced insulating plates mounted on said plate forwardly of said operating means, a carrier ,moun'ted on said plate forwardly of said operating means and having portions projecting forwardly through the space between the plates, stationary contacts on the insulating plates, movable contacts mounted on said carrier forward projecting portions and cooperating with said stationary contacts to perform the switching operations, an insulating hood mounted in front of the insulating plates and cooperating therewith to enclose the cooperating sets of contacts, said insulating hood being readily removable in a forward direction, said insulating plates and carrier being thereafter readily removable in a forward direction and said operating means being readily removable in a forward direction after removal of said insulating plates and carrier, whereby to promote the ready accessibility and assembly of the elements of the switch.

HERMON L. VAN VALKENTBURG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

